Monthly Review: July 2007

This monthly review goes out to the leadership of AGI's member
societies, members of the AGI Government Affairs Advisory Committee,
and other interested geoscientists as part of a continuing effort
to improve communications between GAP and the geoscience community
that it serves.

The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) is organizing congressional
visits for scientists and engineers on September 18 and 19. AGI and
several other Member Societies are part of CNSF. Participants are
asked to carry forward a core message urging Congress to support steady
increases for the National Science Foundation. In addition, participants
can share their own brief messages about programs that they see as
valuable examples of the federal science and technology enterprise
emphasizing, for example, the value of the geosciences to the economy
and national security. The coalition hopes to bring together a diverse
array of scientists and engineers representing many disciplines for
a brief overview of priorities, on the afternoon of September 18,
followed by congressional visits in multidisciplinary groups on September
19.

We urge you to sign up and participate in this effort. It will not
take too much time, hundreds of scientists participate in visits every
year and it is vital that the geoscience community communicates about
the value of geoscience with policymakers. AGI's Government Affairs
Program and the public policy offices of several Member Societies
can provide you with more information about the visits and will be
helping to organize this event. Please contact Linda Rowan, AGI's
Director of Government Affairs at rowan@agiweb.org to sign up or to
ask questions. The deadline for signing up is August 23.

After much work on innovation and competitiveness initiatives by
Congress, the Administration and many scientific societies such as
AGI, Congress passed a large and sweeping piece of legislation that
would boost funding for physical science research and science and
engineering education. The America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully
Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act or America
COMPETES Act (H.R.
2272) would double the budget of the National Science Foundation
and the Energy Department's Office of Science over the next 7 years.
The large measure also contains increases for physical science research
in other agencies and programs as well as providing a host of science
and engineering education enhancements.

Speaker Pelosi compared the funding provided in the America COMPETES
Act to the Apollo space program and enthusiastically recalled the
words of President Kennedy from his now famous Moon speech. Speaker
Pelosi also praised the hard work and leadership of Science and Technology
Chair Bart Gordon (D-TN), Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Congresswoman
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Congressman George Miller (D-CA).

Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) gave a very enthusiastic speech in support
of the measure and in particular in support of the Advanced Research
Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E would receive $300 million
in fiscal 2008 for high risk, transformational energy research. Appropriations
as necessary would be provided in 2009 and 2010 and Congress would
have the option to terminate ARPA-E after 4 years. The funding for
ARPA-E would come from a separate Treasury account, its director would
report directly to the Energy secretary and the Senate would have
to confirm the director, who would be appointed by the President.

The legislation also includes new policies to prevent the suppression
or distortion of federal research. Under the measure, the White House
Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Office of Management
and Budget and the heads of federal civilian science agencies would
have to issue "an overarching set of principles to ensure the
communication and open exchange of data and results ... and to prevent
the intentional or unintentional suppression or distortion" of
federal research.

AGI and many other organizations sent letters of support for this
measure in the first few days of August before the recess and the
support of all of these organizations was noted in a House Science
and Technology Committee press release. Many geoscientists and engineers
from AGI's Member Societies have spent many years communicating their
support to policymakers for such a sweeping piece of legislation and
their hard work has paid off.

On July 26, 2007, the House approved the Departments of Commerce
and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for
FY 2008 (H.R.
3093) by vote of 281 to 142. The measure includes more than $28
billion in research and science education funding, about $1 billion
more than the President's request. The Senate passed their version
of science appropriations in June, so the next step is to conference
on the two bills and bring the compromise legislation back to both
chambers for final approval after the August recess. President Bush
has threatened to veto the bill because of the additional spending
and Congress is unlikely to have enough votes to override the veto.
The veto threat extends to some other appropriation bills and it is
looking likely that Congress might have to rush an omnibus package
to the President after both branches have compromised on fiscal priorities.

For now, the House appropriations bill provides robust and essential
increases for research and science education. Below are some highlights
of funding increases for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
and the National Science Foundation.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would receive
$3.95 billion, an increase of about $141 million over the President's
request and about $57 million more than the fiscal 2007 enacted budget.
There would be increases for research on climate change and a request
for the National Academies to study global climate change. Oceans
and Atmospheric Research would received about $410 million for operations,
research and facilities, an increase of about $52 million above the
President's request and $46 million more than fiscal 2007. The National
Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) would
receive about $158 million for operations, research and facilities,
including funding for environmental data archiving, access and assessment
activities.

The National Science Foundation would receive $6.509 billion, which
is $80 million more than the President's request and $592 million
more than fiscal 2007. This level of funding if passed and continued
in future fiscal years would allow the NSF budget to double over a
10 year period. The Research and Related Activities account would
receive the lion's share of the increase, with a proposed budget of
$5.140 billion, an increase of $8 million over the request and $474
million over fiscal 2007. In the Major Research Equipment and Facilities
Construction account, $42 million is proposed for the Alaska Region
Research Vessel and $31 million is proposed for the Ocean Observatories
Initiative. The Education and Human Resources account would receive
a modest increase of $26 million compared to fiscal 2007 for a total
budget of $822.6 million. The Noyce Scholarship program and the Math
and Science Partnerships program would receive large increases relative
to the President's request.

The House also approved a new program on climate change education.
The House Report (110-240) stated "The Committee has provided
$10,000,000 for a new activity in the Education and Human Resources
Directorate: education and training in the use of Earth observations
and information derived from those observations, which includes assistance
to educators in inspiring and training students in this area. As called
for in the National Academies' `Earth Science and Applications from
Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond', the training
of future scientists who are needed to interpret observations, and
who will turn the measurements into knowledge and information is critical.
The Foundation should work with the National Academies in the development
of a plan for the distribution of these funds."

The House of Representatives worked overtime to pass an energy bill
and other key legislation before taking their August recess. During
a rare Saturday session on August 4th, the House passed the New Direction
for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection
Act (H.R.
3221) by a vote of 241 to 172. The measure is a combination of
a many bills and would aim to increase energy efficiency and conservation,
increase basic research on renewable energy resources, such as geothermal,
solar, wind and wave, increase research on carbon capture and sequestration,
promote ethanol use and require 15% of private utility energy generation
to come from alternative resources. The "consensus" legislation
also contains language that would repeal many aspects of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT05), particularly aspects that would favor
fossil fuel research and development.

Most of the Republicans strongly opposed the legislation because
it does not promote nuclear energy, coal-to-liquid plants, new offshore
drilling or fossil fuel research and development, while the bill repeals
parts of EPACT05. Squabbles also erupted over typical turf and regional
battle lines. In particular, the House bill does not address vehicle
fuel efficiency standards because of opposition from the auto industry
and Congressman John Dingell (D-MI), who represents a district dominated
by the auto industry. Vehicle fuel efficiency enhancements are part
of the Senate energy bill and the tough issue will re-surface when
the two chambers conference to work out the differences between their
measures after the August recess.

The House passed the Water Resources Development Act (H.R.
1495) by a vote of 381 to 40 on August 1st and now the measure
awaits a final vote in the Senate before it can be sent to the President.

The massive legislation would fund over 900 Army Corps of Engineers
flood and environmental restoration projects and would cost $21 billion.
This is much larger than the original House bill ($15 billion) or
the original Senate bill ($14 billion) and the President has threatened
to veto the legislation because of its cost. The Ranking Member of
the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman
John Mica (R-FL) promised to have enough votes to override the veto.
Although the Senate has not set a time table for considering this
bill, in an unusual meeting of the minds, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) both pledged to get enough votes in
the Senate to override a possible veto too.

Congressmen John Dingell (D-MI) and Jim Oberstar (D-MN) have introduced
a measure that would erase the term "navigable" and replace
that term with "waters of the United States." in the Clean
Water Act. The bill (H.R. 2421) would increase the number of waterways
protected by the Clean Water Act by removing the requirement that
only navigable waterways are protected. The measure is in response
to two recent Supreme Court decisions that focused on what Congress
intended by the phrase "navigable waters of the United States".
The Supreme Court cases in question are Solid Waste Agency of Northern
Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the joint cases of
Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The legislation also includes a clause that would retain existing
Clean Water Act exemptions, including those for agriculture, mining
and silviculture.

The measure was introduced in May and is currently sitting in the
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. A hearing on
the legislation took place in July and the measure currently has 169
co-sponsors.

The full text of the bill is available from Thomas.

7. Cap and Trade
Legislation Remains on Congressional Agenda

Multiple cap and trade bills have been introduced in Congress, but
none of these bills seem to have the votes for passage. Now, Senators
Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) are working behind
the scenes to come up with compromise legislation that can win approval
in both chambers. Although the pair wanted to get their new bill out
before the August recess, they have not done so, but hope to introduce
something in September.

International impetus is growing for Congress to become more proactive
on cap and trade. The United Nations will host a global warming summit
on September 24th and President Bush will host his own 15 nation global
warming summit this fall. In addition, in July, the Business Roundtable
called for international and domestic action on global warming.

Congress held many hearings on different aspects of cap and trade
in July and Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ted Stevens (R-AK) and
Arlen Specter (R-PA) have all changed course and become co-sponsors
of Senator Jeff Bingaman's (D-NM) cap and trade bill. Many of the
more popular cap and trade bills, including Bingaman's, contain what
has been called a "safety valve" or "off ramp"
which would allow industry and government to opt out of cap and trade
programs if certain economic restrictions are met. Such opt-out options
are probably necessary for any legislation to gain approval in both
chambers.

8. Mark Abbott Named
Assistant Director for Geosciences at NSF

On July 10, NSF announced that Mark Abbott will be the new assistant
director for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
He will begin his new post on October 1, 2007 and will oversee the
Geosciences Directorate, which has a budget of $744.85 million in
fiscal year 2007. Abbott is currently dean of the College of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Sciences and professor of biological oceanography
at Oregon State University.

He has been a member of the National Science Board, co-chair of Oregon
Governor Ted Kulongoski's Climate Change Integration Group, and a
member of the board of trustees of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.
His research focuses on the interaction of biological and physical
processes in the upper ocean, and relies on remote sensing and field
observations. Abbott is a pioneer in the use of satellite ocean color
data to study coupled biological and physical processes.

Abbott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in conservation of natural
resources from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate
in ecology from the University of California at Davis. He formerly
held positions with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La
Jolla, California and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

9. National Petroleum
Council Issues Energy Outlook for Oil and Gas

On July 18th, the National Petroleum Council (NPC) released a draft
report entitled "Facing the Hard Truths About Energy, A Comprehensive
View to 2030 of Global Oil and Natural Gas". The draft report
was released at an NPC meeting in Washington DC. The work is being
led by Lee Raymond, the former Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil,
and involves 350 experts plus more than a thousand others who have
been invited to provide comments and advice. Major issues highlighted
in the executive summary include:
1. During the past 25 years, energy demand increased by 60 percent
and the next 25 years is likely to see a similar rate of increasing
energy demand.
2. Coal, oil and natural gas are indispensable resources for the next
25 years.
3. The majority of the energy sector workforce is eligible for retirement
in the next 10 years and this workforce must be replenished.
4. Policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will alter the energy
mix, increase energy-related costs and require reductions in energy
demands.

The NPC called for the following actions to mitigate the highlighted
problems:
1. Reduce demand by increasing energy efficiency.
2. Expand and diversify energy resources.
3. Integrate energy policy into trade, environmental, security and
foreign policy.
4. Enhance science and engineering capabilities and create sustainable
opportunities for research and development of all energy resources.
5. Develop a legal and regulatory framework for carbon capture and
storage.

The 40-page report contains many useful statistics on global oil
and natural gas as well as energy usage, particularly in the United
States. Although many of these statistics come from different sources,
having them all in one document is helpful.

The National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions
(NASSMC), a network of 42 state-level business/education partnerships,
has announced the establishment of the STEM Accelerator Initiative
(SAI). This program has been created to fill a critical void in the
STEM education landscape, by providing second-stage support to STEM
education programs that are proven to impact the education/workforce
pipeline from grades PreK-16 and beyond.

Russian Arctic explorer Artur Chilingarov planted a Russian flag
on the Lomonosov Ridge about 14, 000 feet beneath the sea, near the
North Pole claiming a vast region of seafloor for Russia. Although
the flag planting has been considered a media stunt, Russia is very
serious about its claim to this resource-rich region of the Arctic.
Russia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
in 1997. The treaty limits the five nations on the Arctic Ocean (Russia,
Norway, Canada, Denmark and the United States) to 200 miles of territorial
waters, but allows any country to file a claim for more territory
if they can show that their continental shelves extend into the Arctic.

Russia filed a claim in 2001, arguing that the Lomonosov ridge is
an extension of Siberia's continental shelf. The commission requested
more data to prove this claim and Russia's Institute of Ocean Geology
has recently gathered more data to support this claim. This new data
sparked Chilingarov to plant the Russian flag, however, the Institute
suggests that it will take until 2010 at the earliest to collect enough
data to verify the claim.

There is a lot at stake in the Arctic besides territorial claims.
Arctic ice has decreased by 20 percent over the past 20 years and
the melting ice opens up a shorter route between Europe, Asia and
the Western Hemisphere for ships. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates
that the Arctic seabed and subsoil hold as much as 25% of the world's
undiscovered oil and gas. In addition, there may be economically viable
deposits of tin, manganese, gold, nickel, lead and platinum. No wonder
the flag-planting stunt has caused great concern. Canada, in response
to the flag-planting, announced that it is building eight armed ice-breaking
ships, while the United States, Norway and Denmark are working on
their own claims in the Arctic.

One potential problem for the United States is that the Senate has
not ratified the Law of the Sea treaty and this weakens the country's
ability to deal with the Russian claims and any other claims. Ratification
would give the United States a seat at the table in resolving disputes,
such as the Russian claim and provide clarity with regards to American
territorial waters. Indeed, President Bush, the U.S. State Department
and the U.S. Coast Guard have called for ratification of the treaty
for these and other reasons.

AGI and the American Geophysical Union recently signed onto a letter
asking the Senate to ratify the Law of the Sea treaty because it would
also make it easier for geoscientists to conduct research and exploration
in the sea and on the seafloor. The treaty creates rules for the world's
oceans and their resources, spelling out, for example, the procedures
for the interdiction of vessels on the high seas, for offshore drilling
and fishing, maritime pollution, and the right to navigate the straits
and other waters of coastal nations. 155 countries have already ratified
the treaty and the United States remains perhaps the most exceptional
hold-out among the remaining nations.

12. Apollo Archives
Available

Arizona State University and NASA's Johnson Space Center have teamed
up to make available high-resolution scans of original Apollo flight
films. They are available to browse or download at: http://apollo.sese.asu.edu.

13. Key Federal
Register Notices

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has changed
Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations for a host of communities
around the country. Modified BFEs are available at the office of the
Chief Executive Officer of each community. For more information contact
William R. Blanton, Jr. at (202) 646-3151.
[Federal Register: July 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 126)]

EPA - The EPA is taking direct final action to amend the national
emission standards for primary copper smelting area sources and secondary
copper smelting area sources published on January 23, 2007. This direct
final rule is effective on October 1, 2007 without further notice,
unless EPA receives adverse comment by August 2, 2007.
[Federal Register: July 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 127)]

NSF - The National Science Foundation has renewed a selection of
advisory committees for another two years. For the full list of committees,
see the Federal Register Entry, available here: http://tinyurl.com/yolkv5
For more information, please contact Susanne Bolton, NSF, at (703)
292-7488
[Federal Register: July 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 128)]

DOC- NOAA issued a notice of public meeting and comment regarding
the US Coral Reef Task Force, to be held in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
This meeting, the 18th bi-annual meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task
Force, provides a forum for coordinated planning and action among
federal agencies, state and territorial governments, and nongovernmental
partners. Please register in advance by visiting http://www.coralreef.gov
For more information, contact Beth Dieveney at 301-713-3155 x129 or
Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov
[Federal Register: July 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 129)]

EPA - The EPA issued a Notice of Data Availability. The EPA received
concerning the impacts of the proposed monitoring provisions for open-ended
lines and valves of petroleum refineries and organic chemical manufacturing
plants. This NODA addresses new data collected and analyses conducted
in response to comments that EPA received. They seek comment only
on the impacts of the proposed monitoring provisions for open-ended
lines and valves at synthetic organic chemical manufacturing sources
and petroleum refineries - no other aspect of the proposed rule. Submit
comments by August 8, 2007 at http://www.regulations.gov or to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
Identify by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0699.
[Federal Register: July 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 130)]

USDA - Notice was given of the intention of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) to issue a series of new or revised conservation
practice standards in its National Handbook of Conservation Practices.
These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly
erodible land or on land determined to be a wetland. Comments will
be received for a 30-day period as of July 10, 2007. Submit comments
in writing to: National Agricultural Engineer, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013-2890, or, by e-mail to
Daniel.meyer@wdc.usda.gov
[Federal Register: July 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 130)]

DOC - The purpose of this notice is to announce a decision by the
Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS) under NOAA to recommend
adoption of a standard method for mathematical transformations between
the vertical geodetic datums: The National Geodetic Vertical Datum
of 1929 (NGVD 29) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD
88). In order to maintain consistency of results and to minimize misuse
associated with the mathematical transformation method, FGCS recommends
software identified as VERTCON (Vertical Conversion) as a Federal
standard. Written comments should be sent to the attention of David
Doyle, Chief Geodetic Surveyor, Office of the National Geodetic Survey,
National Ocean Service (N/NGS2), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
Maryland 20910, fax 301-713-4324, or via e-mail Dave.Doyle@noaa.gov.
[Federal Register: July 11, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 132)]

USDA - The Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested
individuals and organizations on the draft tables for the 2007 RPA
Forest Resources of the United States. These tables will be the basis
for analysis of status and trends in the nation's forests and includes
data for 1953, 1977, 1987, 1997, and 2007. The draft review tables
are available in pdf format at: http://fia.fs.fed.us . Comments concerning
this notice should be addressed to Dr. Richard Guldin, Director, Quantitative
Sciences Staff--Forest Service, Mail Stop 1119, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
Comments also may be submitted via fax to 703-605-5131 or by email
to: bsmith12@fs.fed.us. All comments must be received by September
11, 2007.
[Federal Register: July 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 134)]

DOI - The Minerals Management Service is inviting comments on a collection
of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The request concerns the paperwork
requirements in form MMS-144, Rig Movement Notification Report. For
a full abstract of the subject mater, associated with the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, see the Federal Registry Entry at: http://tinyurl.com/29uv5p
[Federal Register: July 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 136)]

DOE - The Office of Science at the Department of Energy issued a
notice of a meeting of the Climate Change Science Program Product
Development Advisory Committee. Attendees will continue discussions
on drafting the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Synthesis and
Assessment Product related to climate modeling. The meeting will be
held on Wednesday, August 8, 2007, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the American
Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20009.
For more information contact Dr. Anjuli Bamzai at 301-903-0294; or
anjuli.bamzai@science.doe.gov
[Federal Register: July 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 137)]

DOC - NOAA issued a notice to announce the availability for public
comments of the draft Report for one of the U.S. Climate Change Science
Program (CCSP) Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAP). This draft
Report of SAP 4.6 addresses the following CCSP Topic: ``Analyses of
the Effects of Global Change on Human Health, Welfare, and Human Systems.''
A revised Report along with the comments received will be published
on the CCSP web site. Comments must be received by September 4, 2007.
The web address to access the draft report and make comments is: http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-6/default.phpDetailed
For more information, contact Dr. Fabien Laurier, Climate Change Science
Program Office, 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 250, Washington,
DC 20006, Telephone: (202) 419 3481.
[Federal Register: July 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 139)]

DOE- the DOE is preparing an environmental impact statement for disposing
of Greater-Than-Class-C low-level radioactive waste (GTCC LLW). The
DOE will evaluate different disposal options such as geologic repositories,
intermediate depth boreholes, and enhanced near surface facilities.
The DOE invites public comment until September 21, 2007. Comments
may be submitted to James L. Joyce, Document Manager, Office of Regulatory
Compliance (EM-10), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0119.
Additional information may be requested or messages recorded by calling
(301) 903-2151. Fax: 301-903-4303. E-mail: gtcceis@anl.gov. Additional
information on the GTCC LLW EIS can be found at http://www.gtcceis.anl.gov
[Federal Register: July 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 140)]

EPA- The Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee (MSTRS) of
the Federal Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, September 19,
2007 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to discuss activities being conducted by
EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality. The meeting will be
held at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City-National Airport, 300 Army
Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202-2891. Phone: 703-416-4100. For Technical
Information: John Guy, Designated Federal Officer, Transportation
and Regional Programs Division, Mailcode 6405J, U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; Ph: 202-343- 9276; e-mail: guy.john@epa.gov.
Background on the work of the Subcommittee is available at: http://www.epa.gov/air/caaac/mobile_sources.html
[Federal Register: July 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 140)]

DOE- The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed revision and
three-year extension to the Coal Program package. Send comments to
William Watson. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date,
submission by Fax (202-287-1944) or e-mail coal@eia.doe.gov)
[Federal Register: July 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 141)]

EPA- The EPA is posting the applicability determinations, alternative
monitoring decisions, and regulatory interpretations that EPA has
made under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS); the National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP); and the
Stratospheric Ozone Protection Program. For further information visit
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/monitoring/programs/caa/adi.html
[Federal Register: July 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 143)]

EPA- On July 31, 2007, the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
(OAQPS) of EPA will make available for public review and
comment a draft technical support document in EPA's review of the
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead, Lead Human
Exposure and Health Risk Assessments for Selected Case Studies (Draft
Risk Assessment Report). The purpose of the Draft Risk Assessment
Report is to describe the design, methodology and results of the human
exposure and health risk assessments for lead. Comments must be made
before August 29, 2007. Submit your comments, identified by Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0735, by one of the following methods: http://www.regulations.gov:
[Federal Register: July 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 144)]

EPA- The EPA has given notice that a meeting of the Gulf of Mexico
Program (GMP) Management Committee (MC). The meeting will be held
on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday,
August 23, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information
contact Gloria D. Car, Designated Federal Officer, Gulf of Mexico
Program Office, Mail Code EPA/GMPO, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000
at (228) 688-2421.
[Federal Register: July 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 145)]

DOC- The Science Advisory Board (SAB) will hold an open meeting to
advise The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
on strategies to help ensure science programs are of the highest quality
and provide optimal support to resource management. The meeting will
be held Wednesday August 22, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and
Thursday August 23, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. These times and
the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer
to the web page http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html. For
more information contact Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive Director, Science
Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301-734-1156, Fax: 301-713-1459, E-mail: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov);
or visit the NOAA SAB Web
site at http://www.sab.noaa.gov.
[Federal Register: July 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 145)]

DHS- The Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Agency has given notice
that the changes in the fee schedules will allow FEMA to reduce further
the expenses to the National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP) by recovering
more fully the costs associated with processing conditional and final
map change requests; retrieving, reproducing, and distributing technical
and administrative support data related to FIS analyses and mapping;
and producing, retrieving, and distributing particular NFIP map and
insurance products. The revised fee schedules are effective for all
requests dated October 1, 2007, or later. For more information contact
William Blanton Jr., CFM, Section
Chief, Engineering Management Section, Risk Analysis Branch, 500 C
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472; by telephone at (202) 646-3151
or by
facsimile at (202) 646-2787 (not toll-free calls); or by e-mail at
william.blanton@dhs.gov.
[Federal Register: July 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 146)]

19. New Updates
to the Website

The following updates and reports were added to the Government Affairs
portion of AGI's web site www.agiweb.org/gap
since the last monthly update:

*********************************************************************
Monthly Review prepared by Linda Rowan, Director of Government Affairs
and David McCormick and Sargon de Jesus, AGI/AIPG Summer Interns.

Sources: National Petroleum Council, Associated Press, Washington
Post, Greenwire, E&E Daily, Library of Congress, House Committee
on Appropriations, House Committee on Science and Technology, U.S.
Geological Survey, National Science Foundation and NASA.

**********************************************************************
This monthly review goes out to members of the AGI Government Affairs
Program (GAP) Advisory Committee, the leadership of AGI's member societies,
and other interested geoscientists as part of a continuing effort
to improve communications between GAP and the geoscience community
that it serves. Prior updates can be found on the AGI web site under
"Public Policy" <http://www.agiweb.org>.
For additional information on specific policy issues, please visit
the web site or contact us at <govt@agiweb.org> or (703) 379-2480,
ext. 228.

Please send any comments or requests for information to AGI Government
Affairs Program.